Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Umemployment Rate Rises in Clark County to 3.9% in August

Clark County's unemployment rate rose from 3.3 percent in July to the August figure of 3.9 percent.

This can be attributed to the laying off of 150 people by the Carrier Corporation.

The jobless rate rose in four of the six counties surrounding Clark County, with Ouachita and Pike counties showing declines in their figures.

Dallas County rose from 6.6 percent to 6.7 percent, while Hot Spring County went from 4.8 to 5.0 percent from July to August. Montgomery County's increase was from 3.7 percent to 3.8 percent, with Nevada County jumping a full percentage point from 5.5 to 6.5 percent. Ouachita County fell from 9.7 to 9.5 percent, while Pike County dropped from 4.9 to 4.5 percent.

The increase in unemployment dropped Clark County out of the top 10 as far as jobless figures go. Montgomery County's 3.8 percent was good for 11th spot, while Clark County was tied with Boone and Cleburne counties for 12th. Pike County is ranked 24th in the state, while Hot Spring County is rated 34th. Nevada County comes in at 54th, with Dallas County right behind in 55th. Ouachita County rose from 75th to 73rd.

There were five counties in Arkansas with jobless figures between 2.0 and 2.9 percent. Nine counties came in between 3.0 and 3.9 percent. There were 19 counties recording unemployment numbers from 4.0 to 4.9 percent, and 16 in the 5.0 to 5.9 bracket. Seven counties fell in the 6.0 to 6.9 percent range, while 10 had numbers from 7.0 to 7.9 percent. Five counties had unemployment between 8.0 and 8.9 percent, with two in the 9.0 to 9.9 range. Only Izard County had double digit unemployment at 10.3 percent.

According to figures from the Arkansas Employment Security Division, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, compared to the national average of 5.6 percent.

The state's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) show the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA with the lowest unemployment figures at 2.7 percent. Pine Bluff's MSA had the highest number at an even 7.0 percent. The Little Rock-North Little Rock MSA was 3.6 percent, while the Fort Smith MSA was 4.4 percent.